HASSAN: Representatives of various Kannada organisations said here on that under no circumstances would they allow the Maharashtra Government to hold a special Assembly session in Belgaum on the lines of the session being held by the Karnataka Government. They said any such attempt by the neighbouring State to claim its right over Belgaum would lead to "terrible consequences".

Leaders of various Kannada organisations, who visited Hassan to garner support to make a success of the October 4 Karnataka bandh, protested against the Centre's decision to change its affidavit in the Supreme Court on the Maharashtra Government's writ petition demanding the merger of Belgaum and other Marathi-speaking areas with that State. Addressing presspersons they said Kannada activists were prepared to do anything to stop attempts of the Maharashtra Government to hold a special session regardless of State Government's permission.

They were responding to a report in a section of the press that Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra R.R. Patil had spoken about plans of the Maharashtra Government to conduct an Assembly session in Belgaum to reassure the Marathi community in the area. The National Congress Party (NCP) had reportedly placed a demand in this regard to the Government.

S.R. Govindu, president State unit, Dr. Rajkumar Fans' Association, said the Maharashtra Government was raking up the border issue purely for political reasons despite a report from the Mahajan Committee which was constituted at its behest.

He alleged that Minister for Home Affairs Shivaraj Patil was partial to his home State and he was reportedly instrumental in the withdrawal of the affidavit filed by the Home Ministry to the Supreme Court. Appreciating Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for holding a special session in Belgaum he said it had helped boost the morale of Kannadigas in border districts.

Karnataka bandh

He said the October 4 bandh was an opportunity for Kannadigas to prove their strength against the alleged partisan attitude of Union Government towards Karnataka.

"All political parties, various cultural organisations and public sector units in Bangalore have extended their support to bandh," he said.

Seeking the support of leaders of Information and Technology and Biotechnology to close their establishments for the bandh, K. Prabhakara, president, State unit, Kannada Vedike, said the proposed action would help pressure the Union Government which was all set to file an affidavit to the Supreme Court on October 11.

"We have asked MPs from Karnataka to convey a clear message to the Prime Minister that any injustice to the State would meet with serious consequences. We will force them to resign for their posts in case of failure on their part to do so," he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail